Spring is here with Lemon Risotto!

In my last post I mentioned that I had not been online as much due to my sudden absorption in the book Water for Elephants.  It was a great book and I definitely recommend reading it before the movie comes out in two weeks!

Aside from reading, I have been praying for spring weather to arrive.  After a freak snow storm on April 1st and a handful of rainy days, it is finally beginning to feel like spring here in New England! Finally! I am so excited that the weather has been improving because I love to cook with various spring and summer fruits and vegetables.  In order to celebrate the changing of weather, I am kicking off my first official "Spring Post" with a Lemon Risotto. Risotto is an Italian dish that consists of rice cooked in a broth that makes it very creamy and delicious! The addition of the lemon flavors makes this risotto so light and flavorful that it is sure to drag anyone out from the winter blues!

Lemon Risotto (Lemon cup idea courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis)

Ingredients:
-2 cups chicken broth
-1/2 cup water
-1 medium shallot, chopped
-3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
-1 cup Arborio rice
-1 cup dry white wine
-1 lemon zested and juiced
-1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
-2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
-Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth and water to a simmer and leave on low heat.

In another medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter.  Add the shallot and sauté for about 3 minutes.  Pour the rice into the pan and mix in with the shallot.  Then, add the wine and simmer until the wine is reduced.  Once the wine has reduced, add about a 1/2 cup of the broth.  Simmer and stir until almost reduced (a few minutes).  Continue adding about a 1/2 cup of the broth at a time, allowing to reduce before adding more.  Once all of the broth has been used, remove from heat and mix in the last tablespoon of butter, Parmesan cheese, mascarpone cheese, lemon zest and juice, and salt and pepper to taste.  The rice mixture should be creamy but still somewhat firm to the bite.

Serve warm as a side dish to accompany dinner or during brunch - Enjoy!

And before I forget, I want to thank Manus Menu for bestowing upon me several awards! You can view her wonderful blog and awards here.  Be sure to check out her awesome Italian dishes and the recent bake sale that she participated in for Japan! 

Pin It